Best Approach to Butterbur Extracts of butterbur may help ease allergy symptoms by inhibiting the production of inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes -- something some allergy medicines do as well. But
only a handful of short-term studies have been done on butterbur. So if you're interested in the herb, it's important that you talk with your doctor first -- especially since butterbur contains compounds that can be
toxic to the liver. (People with liver problems are obvious noncandidates.) Also, butterbur could make ragweed allergies worse because the herb shares similarities with that plant. One bonus with butterbur? It didn't cause
daytime drowsiness in a recent study. (Sleep better through an allergy flare-up with these tips.)

About one out of five Americans suffers from allergies. An allergy is an exaggerated response from the immune system to a substance such as dust, pollen, pet dander or mold. Other common triggers include foods such
as peanuts and...milk; insect bites; and certain ingredients in cosmetics and jewelry. Allergies can cause anything from rashes and hives to itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, diarrhea, vomiting, and wheezing. More